15 Ways to Clean With Baking Soda

Do you have a box of baking soda in your cupboard? Lucky you. You won’t ever need to spend money on chemical-filled cleaning products again. That humble little box holds the ingredient to clean, refresh and deodorize your entire home—and it’s completely natural.

Conventional cleaning products on the market today expose us to a lot of scary ingredients, including toxins linked to asthma, allergies, cancer and a slew of other health issues.

For a healthier home, use baking soda to clean, well, pretty much everything. Here are just fifteen uses.

1. Scrub stainless steel
Once I discovered this easy method to clean my stainless steel sink, I’ve never used anything else. All I do is shake a layer of baking soda onto the bottom of the sink. Then, I turn on the faucet for about one second, or just long enough to make the baking soda slightly damp. The water and baking soda mix together to form a paste, which I scrub into the sink using a rag. Every time I do this, I’m amazed by the shiny transformation pulled off by just a little baking soda and water. You have to try it!

2. Absorb odors
Plain ol’ baking soda can remove funky odors from just about anywhere. Stash a box in the refrigerator, the laundry room, and behind the toilet. You can also sprinkle a layer of baking soda onto the bottom of trashcans to keep those stinky boys smelling fresh.

3. Refresh carpet or rugs
To clean and deodorize your carpets or rugs, shake baking soda over them until they look like it snowed inside. Let the baking soda settle for 30 minutes and then vacuum it up.

4. Remove gunk from cast iron pans
Scrubbing a cast iron pan with soap will strip away the coating you created when you seasoned the pan. So, how do you get cast iron pans clean after a hard night of cooking? Use baking soda! After the pan has cooled, sprinkle a layer of baking soda along the bottom of the pan and add a tiny amount of water. When the baking soda and water combine, they will form an abrasive paste that you can use to scrub away caked-on bits. (P.S. This works on all kinds of pans, not just cast iron.)

5. Cut grease naturally
A little baking soda; a little white vinegar; and you’ve got one powerful concoction to get rid of grease splatters and stuck-on crud from your stovetop.

6. Clean your oven|
You only need one product to clean your oven. You guessed it, baking soda. Simply spread a thick layer of baking soda onto the bottom of your oven. Make the layer at least ¼ inch thick. Then, dampen the baking soda with a spray bottle of water. Leave it for a few hours and then spray the baking soda with water again. Let the mixture soak overnight. In the morning, you’ll be able to easily sponge away grime, food buildup, baking soda and all.

7. Say goodbye to soap scum
With the combined cleaning power of baking soda and white vinegar, you can make your shower or tub sparkle. The fizzy action that occurs when you combine the two creates the perfect cleaner to remove soap scum and grime.

8. Unclog drains
Forget the Drano. You can remove clogged drains naturally with baking soda and vinegar. Pour ½ cup baking soda down the blocked drain followed by ½ cup white vinegar. Finish by pouring an entire kettle (or pot) full of boiling water down the drain.

9. Boost your laundry detergent
Add ½ cup baking soda to the wash cycle when doing laundry to enhance the power of your laundry detergent and to remove odors. Baking soda can also help remove stains, especially from white clothes.

10. Polish silverware
Want to make your silverware shine? Mix a few tablespoons of baking soda with just enough water to form a paste. Scrub your flatware down with the paste and then rinse. Enjoy the sparkle!

11. Deodorize cutting boards
The smell of those onions and garlic you chopped last night can linger for days on your cutting boards. Remove odors by sprinkling the boards with baking soda and then giving them a good scrub.

12. Remove stains on cups
You know those annoying coffee or tea lines and stains that linger on mugs? When they won’t come off in the dishwasher, give the mug a good scrub with a bit of baking soda and water. The abrasive action of the baking soda will take the stains right off.

13. Freshen toilets
When your toilet starts to smell less-than-fresh, sprinkle baking soda in the bowl and give it a good scrub. The baking soda will clean and remove odors. No need to ever use toilet cleaners filled with toxic chemicals again.

14. Cleanse tile floors
Mix ½ cup baking soda with a bucket of warm water and get mopping. The baking soda will help cut through any stuck on messes on your floors.

15. De-funk your garbage disposal
After a while, all garbage disposals start to stink. Refresh yours when it starts smelling by pouring baking soda down the drain. Finish by flushing it with water as you run the disposal.

Who knew you can get your home spotless with just a box of baking soda? Enjoy!

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